IT just wasn’t the league-leaders' day.
NorthPort and Rain or Shine suffered contrasting losses against separate opponents that shook up the standings in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
READ: Meralco Bolts deal league-leading NorthPort a reality check
The Batang Pier fell prey to Meralco, 111-94, while the Elasto Painters failed to sustain a sizzling start and bowed to Converge, 103-96.
READ: Converge brings down Rain or Shine as frustrated Guiao ejected
Despite the loss, NorthPort kept the top spot at 7-2, but Rain or Shine suffered the consequences of skidding from No. 2 to No. 7 at 5-3 in what has been shaping to be a tight race for playoff berths heading into the homestretch.
The FiberXers, for their part, rose to second place with a 7-3 record, just a full game behind the Batang Pier, while the Bolts climbed to a three-way tie with Barangay Ginebra and guest team Hong Kong Eastern at 6-3 with its third win in four outings to start the year.
Here are the takeaways in the rare Tuesday game day at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
1. ’COACH DELTA’ WARMING UP
For the second straight game, Pampanga Gov. Dennis ‘Delta’ Pineda sat on the bench of the FiberXers, reinforcing reports that he’ll soon take over the coaching chores of the purple team.
Previously listed as assistant team manager of the franchise, Pineda, the champion coach of two-time MPBL title holder Pampanga Giant Lanterns, is now officially part of the FiberXers’ battery of deputies that also includes Charles Tiu, Danny Ildefonso, Karl Santos, and Willie Miller. So far, the team is doing good in its campaign and is almost assured of a berth in the playoffs.
2. EXPECT A TIGHT FINISH TO THE ELIMINATIONS
A quick look at the standings will bare 12 of the 13 teams are still in the running for berths in the quarterfinals, meaning the remaining 12 playdates in the next two weeks will all be crucial to all teams involved.
Movement in the standings already began after Tuesday night’s double-header, with Rain or Shine the major casualty. Teams are so close with each other in the standings that should the playoffs begin today, out of the running will be NLEX, Phoenix, Magnolia, Blackwater, and Terrafirma, with defending champion San Miguel clinging to the No. 8 spot. It’s going to be a tight finish to the end. As they say, one missed and you die.
3. MERALCO’S PLATE IS FULL
The Bolts are not only fighting for a quarterfinals berth in the Commissioner’s Cup, but also seeking a ticket to the EASL Final Four. The next two weeks will see coach Luigi Trillo and his team juggling their focus campaigning in both tournaments.
Unlike San Miguel, which is already out of contention in its EASL group standings, Meralco is very much alive for the remaining semis berth in Group B where it is currently tied for second spot with the New Taipei Kings. The Bolts will have a crucial game against early semifinalist Ryukyu Golden Kings next week at the Philsports Arena and end the group phase with a showdown with Jeremy Lin and the Taipei Kings on the road on Feb. 12.
In the PBA, Meralco faces the three San Miguel ballclubs one after the other, starting with the Beermen this weekend in Candon, Ilocos Sur, before taking on Barangay Ginebra then Magnolia.
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